And can I ask–when you say you miss the amazon rainforest, do you also mean you miss the 90+ indigenous tribes that have been completely wiped out by corporate death squads who didn’t even bother to give them the chance to run for their lives before murdering them for land and money?

1,100 environmental activists in South America have been murdered over the last 20 years, and animal agriculture (ranching and feed crop production) is a huge part of that. (x) (x) (x)

And pray tell, what is pretentious about not wanting to literally kill and eat animals because they taste good? About not wanting to put money into a system that kills trillions (yes, trillions if you count fish, which I do) of animals a year, often using underpaid, undocumented workers who can’t seek medical attention when they get hurt?

You want to talk about fictional moral high grounds? How about when anti-vegans accuse vegans of not caring about workers who pick crops while simultaneously ignoring severe and devastating PTSD in slaughterhouse workers?

Why do anti-vegans assume that when vegans talk about animal rights (you know, that’s kind of what they do), they automatically don’t give a shit about humans? I don’t buy diamonds or gold. I can’t exactly not put gas in my car, but by eating a plant-based diet I’ll use less petroleum than on a “standard” American diet (not to mention vegan diets produce less greenhouse gas emissions). I have a slavery-free chocolate list I consult with using an easy app (which was created by a vegan non-profit). I try to get all of my food from fair-trade organizations by buying groceries from small natural food stores. I would love to buy fair-trade clothing, but I honestly can’t afford it (and I don’t buy clothing more than once every few years anyway).

Guys. This is what a national chain store trolling Trump looks like. A bunch of dystopian novels with a sign (I presume) meant for the travel section.

Lee says: Hi everyone! I use they/them pronouns, and I’ve been trying to get my parents to use my pronouns too. It hasn’t been very successful, as of yet, but I’m still trying. In the process of trying to convince them, I’ve been emailing articles and things that support they/them pronouns, things that say “they” can be used as a singular pronoun, and reasons why it’s important to respect someone’s pronouns. 

Edit: It’s been some time since I wrote this post, and now my parents always use my pronouns! Having multiple open and honest conversations about why your pronouns are important to you and giving them time to adjust to the switch is the way to go. Even if your parents aren’t open to the idea of using your pronouns at first, they might change their minds after you’ve been using them for a year. While you’re waiting, make sure to take care of yourself! 

This post and this post have some tips about getting people to use your pronouns. After you’ve had the conversation, sending a few links about pronoun usage to them is a good follow-up. And lucky for you, there are some links gathered below!

Gender Pronouns

if you click on each of the frequently asked questions a helpful answer will show

You Know Those Common Objections to ‘They’ Pronouns? Here Are 9 Simple Facts to Shut Them Down

This is by a person who uses they/them pronouns and has a bit on grammar, and a bit on why they should be used to respect gender identity. I like this one. Some of the links and things covered in this article I also have below.

Shakespeare Used The Singular They, And So Should You

“Most English speakers have no problem using a singular “they” when they’re referring to a subject whose gender is unknown, and sentences like “Somebody left their coat here!” don’t strike many of us as odd. When someone is being asked to use “they” in place of “he” or “she” in order to respect an addressee’s gender identity, things become more difficult for some people.”

Gender-neutral pronouns: When ‘they’ doesn’t identify as either male or female

This one is a response from the Washington Post advice column on using pronouns

10 Things You’re Actually Saying When You Ignore Someone’s Gender Pronouns

This is another article about why it’s important to respect someone’s identity by using their pronouns.

Everyone Uses Singular ‘They,’ Whether They Realize It Or Not

A short bit by NPR on they as a singular pronoun

6 Reasons Your Discomfort with They/Them Pronouns Reveals Unchecked Cis Privilege

This has to do with privilege, similar to the article above.

The Awkward Case of “His or Her” - Merriam-Webster Ask the Editor

The description of this video says “Despite what the grammar police might say, it’s actually fine to use “their” as a singular pronoun.” It’s part of the Ask the Editor video series by the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

‘He or she’ versus ‘they’

Here’s a short thing from the Oxford dictionary that says basically the same thing:

oxford dictionary definition of they

The Oxford dictionary’s definition of the word “they” is here, one of the them says “[SINGULAR] Used to refer to a person of unspecified sex: ask someone if they could help”

themself has been used in past even if it isn’t formally accepted now

Oxford dictionary for themself

Singular “they” and the many reasons why it’s correct

This is a little longer, it says things to the point of famous authors have used it, so don’t correct people.

Their, them, themselves, they (as singular pronouns)

A grammar blog’s post on using they/them as singular pronouns:

Singular they

And of course, Wikipedia!

singular they in the bible

it’s even used in the bible

How using they as a singular pronoun can change the world

“People with non-binary gender identities continually face situations in which someone feels “forced,” by the language norms they’ve internalized, to call us either he or she — even if they’re not sure which one is right, and sometimes even if they have been told that neither is right. “

The Maven’s Word of the Day

Mentions how authors have used they as a singular pronoun before

What To Do (And Not Do) When Someone Asks for Different Gender Pronouns

I really like this too, it’s a comic about pronouns.

A University Recognizes a Third Gender: Neutral

This is an article in the New York Times that talks a little about gender and pronouns, it’s a piece focused on this kid in college. Recently, the Times has been using they/them as gender neutral pronouns, even though they once said they didn’t know if they would.

The Washington Post Style Guide Now Accepts Singular ‘They’

More newspapers are using the singular they

Gender-Neutral Pronouns

A short explanation by a college student group

Why gender-neutral pronouns?

Explaining the reason someone might use they/them

Why Grammar Snobbery Has No Place in the Movement

Here’s an argument against grammar policing in general, just to think about:

Pronouns on Minus 18

Here’s a website where you can practice using pronouns in sentences, so you can see how using they/them pronouns work. If you click play, you can scroll though the drop down menu to click they/them and then use it in sentences.

EAT YOUR MOM’S CORPSE SHE DIED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SUSTENANCE

PRETEND YOU HAVE JUST AROSE FROM THE SEA

REPRODUCE ASEXUALLY, YOU’RE YOUR OWN PARENT

PRETEND IT’S 2BYA

FUSE HYDROGEN INTO HELIUM USING GRAVITATIONAL PRESSURE TO PRODUCE HEAT AND LIGHT. 

PRETEND IT’S 4.5BYA.

THERE IS NO “YOU”, ONLY THE VAST CONCEPT OF NOTHING.

TIME DOES NOT EXIST.

Please spread these images around. It could help save someone’s world.

The end of the D.A.C.A. program; a government issued program that only gave legal permission to hard working young adults, who where forcefully brought into the U.S illegally, is nothing but counterintuitive. Your losing millions of intelligent hard working individuals who have done nothing but help the U.S.

#DACA recipients- brought here as children, had no say in the matter of if they wanted to come in legally or not. They pay taxes, DACA fees, serve in the military - and much more. Don’t spout ignorance. Please stay tolerant and understanding.